' For My Own Pleasure "                             35

Manon Lescaut cost Altschul "what was left of half a million dol¬
lars of income after taxes." He was proud of his expensive master¬
piece, and in addition to the usual select list of family, friends, clubs,
and schools, he sent copies to major libraries, including New York
Public Library, J. Pierpont Morgan Library, Library of Congress,
British Museum, Bodleian Library, and Bibliotheque Nationale. A
few copies were sold by Duschnes at $250 each.

In 1967 Overbrook published its last major literary work, an edi¬
tion of Edith Wharton's Ethan Frome. Thereafter the activities of
the press began to wind down. John Logan, the compositor, died
that year, and Altschul felt his replacement lacked imagination. In
addition, the pressman, Frederick Warns, wanted to retire.
Altschul, approaching his eighty-third birthday, closed the press in
1969. It had been a long run for a private press, thirty-five years and
269 titles, and a good one in terms of the quality of its work.
Altschul described Overbrook Press as "a private press which I ran
for my own pleasure and for the pleasure and benefit of my friends."
That purpose was well accomplished and has left a legacy of works
of enduring quality and craftsmanship.